Suction cleaning apparatus



Feb. 25, 1947. HCKFQRD 2,416,419

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 1'7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORJack HC/rfora' BY My ATTORNEY- Feb. 25, 1947.

J. PICKFORD SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 1'7, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 TI'ORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1947 suc'rronCLEANINGAPPABATUS Jack Pickford, Springfield, Mass., assignor toWestinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application April 17, 1944, Serial No. 531,314 4 Claims.(c1. 15,-14)

My invention relates toa suction cleaner which is adapted for use as anordinary, handle-propelled cleaner in which dirt laden air is drawnthrough a nozzle moved 'over the surface to be cleaned, and which may beconverted to tank type cleaner in which dirt laden air drawn through anattachment hose applied to the cleaner and in which filtered air may beblown through 'said hose. I

One object of my invention is to provide an improved cleaner of the typeset forth.

A further object is to produce an improved converting mechanism for acleaner of the type set forth.

A still further object of my invention is to produce an improvedconstruction which includes means for locking the attachment hose to thecleaner, and means for insuring the return of the converting mechanismto the position it occupies when the cleaner is used for ordinaryfloornozzle cleaning, before the attachment hose can be disconnectedfrom the cleaner.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section and partlyin elevation, of a suctioncleaner embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in side elevation, of certaindetails of construction;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing other details ofconstruction;

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar toFig. 1, showing the suction cleaner converted from floor-nozzle cleaningto attachment suction cleaning;

' 2 compartment 22 in which is positioned a fan 24 driven by an electricmotor (not shown). The nozzle l4 communicates with the dust bag througha passage 28 and a port 30, and the inlet 25 of the fan 24 communicateswith the dust bag compartment 18 through a suitable passage (not shown).The fan compartment 22 is provided with an exhaust outlet 82 formed in awall 34 of the compartment .22 The outlet 32 communicates with theatmosphere through an opening 36 formed in the cleaner casing.

When used for ordinary floor cleaning, the fan 24 draws air through the.nozzle l4, passage 28, port 30, and into dust bag 26 which filters theair. The filtered air is drawn into the inlet of the fan and isdischarged into the compartment 22, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1.With the parts set as shown in Fig. 1, the air is exhausted into theatmosphere through openings 32 and' 36. The rotary agitator i 6 isdriven by the motor actuating the fan 24' by any suitable well-knownmeans (not shown).

In order to be able to convertthe cleaner from an ordinary,handle-propelled cleaner to a tank type cleaner, in which dirt laden airmay be drawn, or filtered air may be blownthrough an attachment hose,the cleaner is provided with a passage 38 extending rearwardly from thepassage 28 and disposed beneath the fan compartment 22. The passage 38is formed of a bottom wall 40 and side walls 42 and 44. A portion of Ithe bottom wall 46 of the fan compartment 22 Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryview, partly in section v and partly in elevation, showing a modifiedform of construction with the cleaner adjusted for attachment blowing;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to cleaner adjusted for attachment suctioncleaning; and

Fig. 8 is a'section on line VIIIVIII of Fig. 6.

.Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, my invention is shown applied to asuction cleaner l0 supported on wheels l2 and adapted to be moved Fig.6, showing the over a surface to be cleaned by a suitable pivoted handle(not shown). The cleaner ID is provided with a floor nozzle l4 in whichmay be mounted a rotary agitator I6. The cleaner is also provided with adust bag compartment 18, in which is positioned a dust bag 20, and a fan-forms the top wall or the passage 38. A hinged valve 48 is movableselectively to connect the passage 28 or the passage 88 withthe port 38and the dust bag 20. The valve 48 is biased by a spring 50 intothe'position shown in Fig. 1 'in which it closes the passage 38 oil fromthe port 30. The top wall 46 i provided with an opening 52 which leadsinto the passage 38.

The converting mechanism includes a slide 54 which overlies the passage38 and which is provided with an opening 56. The opening is adapted, inone position or the slide 54, to register with the opening 52 in thewall 46, to establish communication between the fan compartment 22 andthe passage 38. The converting mechanism also includes an arm. 58 whichis carrled'by the slide 54 and which is movable in an opening 60 in thetop wall 46 of the passage 88. The arm 58 is adapted, in one position ofthe slide, to actuate the valve 48 into the position shown in Fig. 5 inwhich the nozzle I4 is shut ofl'i'rom the port 30 and in whichcommunication is established between the port 30 and the passage 86. Aportion the free 64 or the slide 54 at all'times closes the opening 68regardless of the position of the slide. The slide '54 also carries atab 62 which in one posiauas o tion of the slide closes thegexhaustopening 32.

An adapter. 66 is connected to one tachment hose 68. the other end ofwhich may be provided with any desired dusting or blowing tool. I 4

I When it is desired suction cleanin through the attachment hose 68, endoi! the adapter 66 is inserted into the passage 38 and the slide 54 ismoved inwardly or to the left, as viewed inFig. l. This causes the arm58 to move the valve 48 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shownin Fig. 5 in which the nozzle I4 is shut off from the port 38, and inwhich the passage 38 communicates ,with the port 38,and the low pressureside or the fan.

- Dirt laden air is now drawn through the attachment hose 68 into thedust bag 28 and the filtered air is discharged through the exhaustopenings 32 and 36.

when it is desired to convert the cleaner so as to blow filtered airthrough the attachment hose 68,,the slide 54 is moved outwardly,'or tothe right as viewed in Fig. 1, so as to withdraw the arm 58 from contactwith the valve 48 and so as to cause the tab 62 to close the outletopening.- 32. The opening 56 in the slidenow registers with the opening52, and the valve 48 is biased to the position shown in Fig. 1. Air isdrawn end or an at- I to convertthe cleaner to provide the opposite sideof the adapter 66 with another side pin 86 which is adapted to passthrough a slot 88 in the opposite side wall 44 of the "passage 36.Adjacent the inner end of the slot 88 I provide another latch 98 whichis' pivoted at .92gand whichjs provided'with a. square edged wlockingportion 94 adapted to engage a. corre-'- spondingly shaped recess96 formed in the slide 54. Thelatch 88 is also provided with a camportion 88 which overlaps the inner portion of the slot88; A spring I88biases the latch 88 upwardly into a position in which the lockingportion 94 engages the recess 86 to prevent movement.

of the slide 54 until the adapter 66 shall have been inserted into thepassage 38. when. the

I adapter 66 is inserted into the passage 38, the

. pin 86.rides on the cam surface 98 to depress the latch 88 into theposition shown in Fig. 2 in through the nozzle I4 into the dust bag,where Y yitis filtered, and the filtered air is drawn by the fan anddischarged into the compartment 22 as above explained. The filtered airdischarged by the fan into the compartment 22 is exhaustedthrough-openings 56 and 52 into the passage 88 and out throughtheadapter 66 and hose 68.

In order to lock the adapter 66 in position with- I in the passageaslong as the cleaner is used for suction cleaning or through theattachment hose or for blowing air through said hose, the end of 1 theadapter 66 is provided with a side pin 18, and

thecorresponding side wall 42 of-the passage 38 1 is providedwith a slot12 through which the pin I 18 is adapted. to pass. Positioned adjacentthe inner end or the slot. I2 is a latch 14 pivoted at I I6 and having acam portion 88 which is adapt- 5 ed to seat in a. recess 82 formed inthe slide 54. I The latch 14 isalso provided with a hookedend portion84. which overlaps the. inner portion of I the slot I2. A spring 18normally biases the latch 1 I4 upwardly. "When the slide 54 is in theposition 5 shown inFig. 1, the recess 82 therein registers with the camportion 88 of the latch 14 so that the spring 18 biases the latch 14upwardly into a position in which the cam portion 88 seats in the recess82 and the hooked end portion 84 of the latch 14 clears the upper edgeof the slot I2 as viewed in Fig.3. Inthis position the pin I8 is notengaged by the end 84 or the latch 14.

When the slide 54 is moved inwardly or outwardly from the position shownin Fig. 1, the

. flat portions of the slide on'either side of the re-v cess 82 willride upon the cam portion 88 of the latch 14 and depress the latter intothe position shown in Fig. 3 in which the pin 18 is engaged by thehooked end 8.4 of the latch I4. The

which the locking portion 94 is disengaged irom therecess 86. The slide54 may now be moved to either of its other positions which movement, asabove stated, depresses the latch I4 to lock the pin 18 and hence theadapter 66 within the pass age 38. When the slide 54 is returned to itsintermediate position to permit disengagement of the pin I8 from thehooked end 84 of the latch 14. the locking portion 84 or the latch 88engages the 'recess- 86in the slide 54- to lock the slidein itsintermediate position; The cam surface 98' of the latch 88 is providedwith a recess or seat I8l which is adapted to be engaged by the pin 86,to retain the adapter 66 in position pending adjustment of the slide 54and engagement oi the latch 14 with the pin 86.

In Figs. 6 to 8 there is showna modified or construction in which thestructure and operation of the cleaner proper is the same as that Ishown in Fig. 1 but in which the means for converting the cleaner issomewhat different. In this construction-a pair of slides H8 and H2 areused.

. The slide H8 is provided with anopening H4 which, in one position ofsaid slide, is adapted to register with the opening 52 in the upperiwall46 of the passage 38. The slide II8 also carries .the arm 58 foractuating the valve 48. The slide II2 carries the tab 62 which, in oneposition of the slide 2, closes the opening 32, The slide adapter 66 isnow locked in position until the slide 54 is again moved to the positionin which I the recess 82 registers with the cam portion 88.

It is thus clear that once the adapter 66 is inserted and the slide 54is moved to either of its converting positions, the conduit 66 cannot be1 withdrawn from the passage as until the slide 54 H2 is also providedwith an opening II8 which, in one position of said slide, is adapted toregister with the openings H4 and 52. .The end ofthe slide I I2 isprovided with an upturned lip I28. which isadapted to be engaged by asimilar lip I22 on the end of the slide II8 so that the slide- I2 willbe moved whenever the slide H8 is moved inwardly. or to the left, asviewed in Fig. 6;.

When it is desired to use the cleaner for blowing filtered air throughthe attachment hose 68, the adapter 66 is inserted into the passage 38and the slides I I8 and H2 are both moved outwardlyto the position shownin Fig. 6. In thisposition f the tab 62 closes the outlet 32, theopenings II 4 and I I8 register with the opening 52 and the valve48Ishuts the passage. of! from. the port 38 and the low-pressure side ofthe fan 24. Filtered air discharged by the fan 24 into the compartment22 is now exhausted through'the openings H8;

H4, 52, the passage 88,the adapter 66 and out through the-hose 68.

when it is desired to-use the cleaner for suction cleaning through theattachment hose 68,

form

to the position shown in Fig. 7. In'this position the arm 58 moves thevalve 48 into a position in which the nozzle I4 is shut oiland thepassage 38 is placed in communication with the port 38. the dust bag 20and the low pressure side of the fan 24. It will be noted that in thisposition. the openings H3 and III are out of registration with theopening 52 and that the tab 82 does not obstruct the outlet 32. Ian 24through the hose 88 and adapter 88, into the dust bag 20, and thefiltered air is exhausted through the open outlets 32 and 38.

when this form or construction is to be used for floor nozzle cleaning,the slide I I2 is moved inwardly totake the opening "8 out ofregistratlon with the openings 52 and I I4 and to move the tab 82 awayfrom ,the outlet 32. The slide III! is moved outwardly so as to move thearm 38 away from the valve 48 which is now returned to the positionshown in Fig. 6, by the spring 30. The fan 24 now draws air through thenozzle II, the passage .28, the port 30 and the dust bag 20, and

the filtered air is exhausted through the outlets 32 and 38 in the samemanner as that described in connection with Fig. l.

In order to guard against unintended move- Air is now drawn by the'latch carried by the cleaner; latch-engaging means carried by saidadapter, and means operable upon movement of said valve-actuating meansto actuate said second latch into engagement with said latch-engagingmeans to lock said adaptertosaid passage.

ment oi the parts, I provide a plunger I24 which is biased downwardly bya spring I26, and I provide the slide H0 with a cam member i2! includingtwo recesses I28 and I30. The lower end of the plunger I24, which may berounded as at I32 is adapted to engage one of the recesses I28 or I30 tohold the slide III! in the position to which it is adjusted. The slideH2 is provided with an opening I36 so that it may be moved independentlyof the movement of the slide H0 and without affecting the cam memberI21. The force of the spring I28 is not sufficient to lock the parts inposition but is sumcient to prevent accidental or unintended movementthereof. The end of the adapter 66 may be detachably secured in positionwithin the passage 38 in any desired manner, such as a bayonet coupling,a latch or the like. Since this connection may be conventional it is notshown.

' While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but issusceptible of various other changes and modifications without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and I desire,

therefore, that only such limitations shall be 2. A suction cleanercomprising a casing, a suction-creating device therein, said casinghaving a suction nozzle and a discharge outlet, a wall structuredefining a passage adjacent a wall of said casing, valve means forselectively connecting said passage or said nozzle to the low-pressureside of said suction -creating device, valve means movable into aplurality of positions for selective- 1y connecting said passage or saidoutlet to the high-pressure side of said suction-creating device,valve-actuating means movable into a plurality of positions forselectively actuating either of said valve means into one or the otherof its positions, an adapter connectible to said passage,

a latch carried by the cleaner, a spring normally urging said latch intoa position locking said valve-actuating means against movement, a pincarried by and operable upon connection of said adapter to said passageto disengage said latch from said valve-actuating means, a second latchcarried by the cleaner, latch-engaging means carried by said adapter, aspring normally urging said second latch out of engagement with saidlatch-engaging means, and means operable upon movement of saidvalve-actuating means to actuate said second latch into engagement withsaid latch-engaging means to lock the adapter to said passage.

placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in said passage or saidoutlet to the high-pressure side of said suction-creating device.valve-actuating means movable into a plurality of positions forselectively actuating either of said valve means into one or the otherof its respective positions. an adapter connectible to said passage. a

latch carried by the cleaner and normally'locking said valve-actuatingmeans against movement, means operable in response to connection of saidadapter to said passage to disengage said latch from saidvalve-actuating means, a second 3. A suction cleaner comprising acasing, a sue-- tion-creating device therein, said casing having asuction nozzle and a discharge outlet, a wall structure defining apassage adjacent a wall of said casing, valve means movable into aplurality of positions for selectively connecting said pasconnectingsaid passage or said outlet to the high pressure side of saidsuction-creating device, valve-actuating means movable into a pluralityof positions for selectively actuating either'of said valve means intoone or the other of their respective positions, an adapter insertableinto said passage, a latch carried by a wall of said passage andnormally locking said valve-actuating means against movement, and meansoperable in response to insertion of said adapter into said passage todisengage said latch from said valve actuating means.

4. A suction cleaner comprising a casing, a suction-creating devicetherein, said casing having a suction nozzle and an attachment suctioninlet, valve means movable into a plurality of positions for selectivelyconnecting said nozzle or said inlet to the low-pressure side of saidsuction-creating device, valve-actuating means movable into a pluralityof positions'for selectively actuating said valve means into one or-theother of said positions, an adapter connectible to said inlet, a

latch carried by the casing and normally locking said valve-actuatingmeans in the position to connect said nozzle to the low-pressure sidewhen said adapter is not connected to said inlet, means operable inresponse to connection of said adapter to said inlet to actuate saidlatch to release said valve-actuating means, said valve actuating meansbeing then movable into either of said positions, a second latch carriedby the cleaner, latch-engaging means carried by said adapter,

and means operable in; response to movement of said valve-actuatingmeans to the position to Iconnect said inletto the low-pressure side toactuate said second'lateh'into eng ement with said latch-engaging meansto lock said adapter to said 5 inlet and operable in response tomovement 01' v isaid valve-actuating means to the position to con- :nectsaid nozzle tothe low-pressure side to actuiate said second latch out ofengagement with said latch-engaging means to release said adapter 10-from said inlet. I

' JACK PICH'ORD.

Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,072,696 Whitaker Mar, 2, 19372,254,663 Osborn Sept. 2, 1941'

